Big wins for pro-democracy ballot measures in Connecticut and Maryland

Big wins for pro-democracy ballot measures in Connecticut and Maryland

Posted
on November 04, 2008

No news from Cincinnati (proportional representation) and Memphis (instant runoff voting), but big wins for pro-democracy reforms in Connecticut and Maryland. We've been big backers of the proposal that 17-year-olds be able to vote in primaries in years in which they will 18 and eligible to vote in the general election. Connecticut voters have just passed a state constitutional amendment to establish this practice in their state by a whopping 65% to 35% margin, with votes still being counted. The proposal specifically authorizes "17-year-old persons who preregister to vote and who will attain the age of 18 years on or before the day of a regular election to vote in a primary for such regular election."

Meanwhile, Maryland voters have apparently given a big thumbs up to allowing early voting and other measures to ease access to the polls -- surely influenced by many having to wait in long lines today.